Biomaterial Database

Microtubule-associated proteins and their essential roles during mitosis. 2004

Hélder Maiato, and Paula Sampaio, and Claudio E Sunkel

Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.

Microtubules play essential roles during mitosis, including chromosome capture, congression, and segregation. In addition, microtubules are also required for successful cytokinesis. At the heart of these processes is the ability of microtubules to do work, a property that derives from their intrinsic dynamic behavior. However, if microtubule dynamics were not properly regulated, it is certain that microtubules alone could not accomplish any of these tasks. In vivo, the regulation of microtubule dynamics is the responsibility of microtubule-associated proteins. Among these, we can distinguish several classes according to their function: (1) promotion and stabilization of microtubule polymerization, (2) destabilization or severance of microtubules, (3) functioning as linkers between various structures, or (4) motility-related functions. Here we discuss how the various properties of microtubule-associated proteins can be used to assemble an efficient mitotic apparatus capable of ensuring the bona fide transmission of the genetic information in animal cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008869	Microtubule-Associated Proteins	High molecular weight proteins found in the MICROTUBULES of the cytoskeletal system. Under certain conditions they are required for TUBULIN assembly into the microtubules and stabilize the assembled microtubules.	Ensconsin,Epithelial MAP, 115 kDa,Epithelial Microtubule-Associate Protein, 115 kDa,MAP4,Microtubule Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Protein 4,Microtubule Associated Protein 7,Microtubule-Associated Protein,Microtubule-Associated Protein 7,E-MAP-115,MAP1 Microtubule-Associated Protein,MAP2 Microtubule-Associated Protein,MAP3 Microtubule-Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Proteins,Microtubule-Associated Protein 1,Microtubule-Associated Protein 2,Microtubule-Associated Protein 3,7, Microtubule-Associated Protein,Associated Protein, Microtubule,E MAP 115,Epithelial Microtubule Associate Protein, 115 kDa,MAP1 Microtubule Associated Protein,MAP2 Microtubule Associated Protein,MAP3 Microtubule Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Protein 1,Microtubule Associated Protein 2,Microtubule Associated Protein 3,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP1,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP2,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP3,Protein 7, Microtubule-Associated,Protein, Microtubule Associated,Protein, Microtubule-Associated
D008870	Microtubules	Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS.	Microtubule
D008938	Mitosis	A type of CELL NUCLEUS division by means of which the two daughter nuclei normally receive identical complements of the number of CHROMOSOMES of the somatic cells of the species.	M Phase, Mitotic,Mitotic M Phase,M Phases, Mitotic,Mitoses,Mitotic M Phases,Phase, Mitotic M,Phases, Mitotic M
D008941	Spindle Apparatus	A microtubule structure that forms during CELL DIVISION. It consists of two SPINDLE POLES, and sets of MICROTUBULES that may include the astral microtubules, the polar microtubules, and the kinetochore microtubules.	Mitotic Apparatus,Mitotic Spindle Apparatus,Spindle Apparatus, Mitotic,Meiotic Spindle,Meiotic Spindle Apparatus,Mitotic Spindle,Apparatus, Meiotic Spindle,Apparatus, Mitotic,Apparatus, Mitotic Spindle,Apparatus, Spindle,Meiotic Spindles,Mitotic Spindles,Spindle Apparatus, Meiotic,Spindle, Meiotic,Spindle, Mitotic,Spindles, Meiotic,Spindles, Mitotic
D002465	Cell Movement	The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell.	Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D004718	Saccharomycetales	An order of fungi in the phylum Ascomycota that multiply by budding. They include the telomorphic ascomycetous yeasts which are found in a very wide range of habitats.	Budding Yeast,Endomycetales,Endomycopsis,Yeast, Budding,Budding Yeasts,Endomycetale,Endomycopses,Saccharomycetale,Yeasts, Budding
D005658	Fungi	A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies.	Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D018386	Kinetochores	Large multiprotein complexes that bind the centromeres of the chromosomes to the microtubules of the mitotic spindle during metaphase in the cell cycle.	Kinetochore